Ector County Residents Pushing for Traffic Lights at Scene of Deadly Wreck

2015-02-12T04:16:01Z2015-02-12T04:43:39Z

By: Julia DengNewsWest 9

ECTOR COUNTY - Residents are pushing for traffic lights to be installed at the intersection of Hillmont Road and Edgeport Drive, where an SUV and truck collided Tuesday, killing one and injuring four.

The crash remains under investigation, according to Texas Department of Public Safety officials.

"A GMC Yukon was traveling northbound on Edgeport Drive and the Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck was traveling eastbound on Hillmont Road," said Sergeant Elizabeth Barney. "[The GMC Yukon] failed to yield the right of way to [the truck] and collided in the intersection."

Elisa Esparza, 25, was pronounced dead at Medical Center Hospital.

"She left [behind] a little girl and a little boy," her neighbor, Elisa Esparza, said. "The county needs to do something [about that intersection]. There have been a lot of [driving-related] deaths on Hillmont."

DPS officials could not confirm if the driver of the SUV made a full stop at the corner of Hillmont and Edgeport, where the road connects to Yucca Avenue.

It was also unclear if he had been speeding prior to the collision.

The speed limit at the intersection is 35 mph.

"But all day, every day, we see cars driving through here at 65 [mph], at least," said Hillmont resident Sabrina Molina. "The school buses pick up right by [the crash site], and the mail boxes are right there where the accident happened, so it's a hazard all the time."

She told NewsWest 9 it "can be nerve-wracking" and "really scary" when her 10-year-old daughter, Heidi, plays outside with her friends.

They have never been injured in oncoming traffic, but the family's dogs haven't been that lucky on Hillmont Road.

"My little cocker spaniel got hit, and our two larger dogs got hit and killed last year," said Molina. "We could definitely use lights here. I would like something to be put up, at the least a 'People Crossing' sign, or a 'Children at Play' sign."